A Black Cloud

      The heart is an organ of fire, filled with intense love and intense hatred.  Yet it is

the hatred which entwines the lives of people causing them to display acts of violence and

cruelty.  Hatred is displayed through forms which include:  prejudices towards large

groups of people, crimes of hatred being committed, and indirect hatred which involves

hurting others as an act of rebellion against someone or something.

      Throughout history, the world has been afflicted by the prejudices of powerful

leaders who in turn took their animosity out on large masses of people.  Adolf Hitler, the

leader of Germany during World War II, is a prime example of this.  He took his hatred

out on the Jews, forcing them into concentration camps.  Another group that is a target of

hatred are the blacks.  The Ku Klux Klan, otherwise known as the KKK, possess intense

hatred for the black race.  Their hatred is demonstrated by marching in white cloaks in

protest and also by burning the churches and neighborhoods of blacks.  Just as Hitler and

the KKK express hatred, the Skinheads are yet another group which have strong

prejudices.  These so called Skinheads abominate most races other than their own.  White

hooded silhouettes, German Soldiers echoing "Hail Hitler!", and the infamous Skinheads

are harsh reminders of hatred which exists throughout the world. 

      In the same way that prejudices of large groups of people are expressed,  hate

crimes are committed to demonstrate acts of hatred.  Most recent are the burning of black

churches across the South.  A crime of this sort shows hatred against the black race.

Sometimes leading to manslaughter, racial tensions are abundant.  Furthermore, the

burning of crosses or flags are offensive crimes that are committed to show a person's

hatred for religion or the government.  Spousal abuse, child abuse, homicide, and wars

between races can only be acts of one thing: hatred.  Newspapers are filled with page after

page of stories revealing the immense amount of hatred that our society possesses.

      Although crimes are committed to show hatred directly, there are other crimes

which can also show hatred but in ways that are indirect.  Think back to the Oklahoma

City Bombing; it is a perfect example of indirect hatred.  This is true because the motive of

the bombers was to attempt to take revenge on the government, but instead the bombers

took the lives of innocent people who were in the building.   Moreover, the Empire State

Building gunman's plan was to take revenge on his "bitter enemies", who he blamed for

making Palestinians "homeless", according to a handwritten note he carried.  Instead, one

tourist was killed and five others were hospitalized in this attempt.  Innocent bystanders,

who are at the wrong place at the wrong time, are the ones who suffer most from acts of

indirect hatred.

      A black cloud stifles society, suffocating the lives of people, causing pain and

suffering.  The eyes of mankind are blinded: unable to see passed prejudices.   Generations

carry the preconceptions of the ones before.  Society needs to see the light and learn to

accept.